Submitted by Lewis County
The Lewis County Veterans Advisory Board and Veterans Memorial Museum Quilts of Valor chapter honored veterans Thursday at a ceremony at the museum in Chehalis. Armed forces veterans were given handmade quilts, which “provide deep emotional healing to veterans,” Advisory Board member Rico Barrientes said.
“The quilts are gifted to the veterans in gratitude and honor for their service as a way of comfort to them,” said Lynn Wiltzius, local Quilts of Valor chapter leader.
Local veterans and active duty personnel can be nominated for a quilt through the Veterans Memorial Museum or at a booth at the Southwest Washington Fair, which is scheduled for August 15-20.
Quilt recipients included veterans William Huttula, Paul Kaman, Dan Jemelka, William Turner, Arnold Lyshall, Susan Braaten and Ed Fund, as well as centenarians Glenna Ralff and James Van Ackren.
Lewis County quilters piece together the one-of-a-kind decorative blankets. Attending the ceremony Thursday were quilters Donna Moody, Kristi Gerard, Connie Carter and Debbie Aust.
Since 2018, the Quilts of Valor program has awarded 286 quilts to Lewis County veterans.
